Çadır Höyük (Sorgun)
Çadır Höyük · Cadir Hoyuk · Çadırhöyük · Sorgun Höyük
Late Chalcolithic through Byzantine; EBA II-III, Hittite, Phrygian, Byzantine·Central Anatolian; Late Chalcolithic, EBA, Hittite Empire, Phrygia·🇹🇷 Yozgat Province, Sorgun District, Turkey
About
About Çadır Höyük (Sorgun)
Multi-period tell on the Anatolian plateau above the Kanak Su, excavated by the Oriental Institute (Ronald Gorny and Sharon Steadman) with Bronze Age through Byzantine stratigraphy. The mound (c. 240×140 m, 32 m high) spans Late Chalcolithic (c.4000 BCE) to Late Iron Age and Medieval, with key Early Bronze Age village, Hittite-era settlement and Phrygian levels. Buried mudbrick architecture, Uruk-influenced ceramics and later Hittite-Phrygian fortifications make it a plateau type-site for central Anatolian continuity. Partly excavated; lower town geophysics shows unexcavated buried extramural quarters.
Why it mattersLargest stratified plateau sequence between Alishar and Hattusa spanning 6000 years; clarifies EBA–Hittite transition on steppe.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why EBA village persisted through 4.2kya arid event?
- 02Extent of buried lower town — magnetometry suggests 8 ha vs excavated 0.3 ha
Theories
- 01Plateau refuge model: higher elevation buffered drought
- 02Hittite frontier fortress vs civilian agro-town debate
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4000 BCE (Late Chalcolithic) with major EBA and Hittite levels
- Period
- Late Chalcolithic through Byzantine; EBA II-III, Hittite, Phrygian, Byzantine
- Culture
- Central Anatolian; Late Chalcolithic, EBA, Hittite Empire, Phrygia
- Builders
- Anatolian plateau villagers; Hittite then Phrygian builders
- Purpose
- Tell village and fortified town controlling plateau route to Hattusa
- Abandoned
- c.1200 BCE Hittite abandonment; reoccupied Phrygian/Medieval
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1994–present by Oriental Institute Çadır Höyük Project (Gorny/Steadman)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1994
Oriental Institute survey under Ronald Gorny
2005
Sharon Steadman Chalcolithic exposure and radiocarbon sequence
On the ground
Structures & features
39.8820° N · 35.1430° E · 1120 m · 3 mapped features
Upper Mound EBA village
settlementEBA II mudbrick houses on Chalcolithic base
39.8821° N · 35.1432° EHittite lower terrace
fortificationHittite stone footing with Phrygian rebuild
39.8819° N · 35.1430° ELower town magnetometry anomaly
geophysical anomalyUn_excavated 8 ha extramural settlement
39.8825° N · 35.1440° E